Postcards from Japan -Week 2

If I were to say only one thing about Japan and the Japanese people it would be caring. Everywhere you look you see attention to detail, and everyone you meet cares about you and how they can best be helpful. Furthurmore, they do this with the sweetest of disposistions, playfulness and joy.

Take the tender moment illustrated in the banner photo. I don’t know what the exact interaction was here but I couldn’t help but notice the tender way an older woman was cared for by a younger. It went way beyond a transaction.

We are all aware of famous iconic views of Japan so my postcards are more about the barely noticed.

Let me start here along an ancient memorial pathway. This sculpture is not old, but it honours community, young, old, and infirmity of all kinds. It was created by a famous artist Tsutomu Ueda to symbolize cooperation and mutual help – the idea of the general support for seniors.

This is from a favourite temple – Eikan-Do where these special trees are pruned, literally, by hand. You won’t get to see it clearly but they are removing needles with their hands, not sheers.

This is also my favourite Temple, because it houses (a cultural treasure,) the backwards facing Amida Buddha. We weren’t allowed to take a photo but the short version of the story is that unlike traditional forward facing Buddha’s this one is looking over his shoulder to make sure no one is left behind.

I love these sparsely grown flowers. And something you may not know is that there are enormous and ancient trees everyplace we went.

I better stop or this file will become too big for sending. One more or maybe two. 😊

An old mill for rice in the hills of the Kumano.

And what makes everything so special – the wonderful people.

I hope this note finds you well. When we took the bus from Kyoto to the Kumano on Sunday there was an interesting sign at the front for all to see.

“Substantial delays sometimes happen from road conditions and weather so please accept it beforehand.”

It seemed to me that this is applicable to many situations in life. And of course it isn’t about resignation or approval – rather, what is in our control and what isn’t.

Take heart and I hope you create some joy every single day. Always, courage and strength. warmest wishes from Japan, Trudy

PS home next week.